Fire-extinguishing system of the sprinkler-head type.



n. w. PATTERSON. FIRE EXTINGUIS HI NG SYSTEM OF THE SPRINKLER HEAD TYPE.

APPLICATIQNEILEDJUNEB.19H; V

1,259,903. Patented Mar. 19,1918.

is v

medium is brought directly into an overhead UNITED STATES PATENT oral-on.

DUNCANW'. rar'rnnso'n, or GRANFORD, new JERSEY, assienon TO MACANDREWS AND FORBES COMPANY, OF CAMDEN,

NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM OF THE SPRIIilK'LER-HEAD TYPE.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN W. PATTER- son, a citizen of the United States; residing 1 v State of New Jersey:

Systems of the Sprinkler-Head Type, of

i p which the following is a specification.

particularly This invention relates to improvements in fire extinguishing systems, pertaining more to the construction and arrangement of sprinkler-head units usable in such systems.

In installing fire extinguishing apparatus in buildings, etc., where the extinguishing position in a room, it is the general practice to employ one or more s rinkler-head units which normally retain t e conduit for the medium closed against discharge of the medium; with the unit arranged in such manner that in the presence of higher temperatures,'such for instance as are producedby "fire conditions, the holding means for the closure will be automatically released-to permit discharge of the medium.- By employing a plurality ofunits in a conduit header,- a comparatively ing medium .can

where the temperature conditions open up large amount of extinguishbe delivered at the point the conduit.

So far as I am aware, sprinkler-head systerms have been confined entirely to apparatus where a single medium is used,- being either water or solution of some fire extinguishing salt in water, thus limiting this type of installation to the use of a particular 'form of extinguishing medium. While such system-the sprinkler-head systemis par by reason of ts being permanently located at the point where i needed and ready for operation, it" has the employing individual solutions whichnwhen disadvantage of limiting the fire extinguishing operation to practically the use of water or a single solution of water and a fire extinguishing salt in comparatively large amounts.

Developments in the fire extlnguishing art made in recent years provide a more efficient extinguishing medium'by what is lmown as the foam-extinguishingprocess, this process brought together, produce a gas .which is noxious to the fire flame, s as carrying an ingredient which pro- Specifltation of Letters Patent.

one or both of the Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Application mea June a, 1917. Serial No. 173,517v

duces a foam efiect when the solutions are commixed. Various ways of utilizing the foam-extinguishing process have been contemplated, but, so far as I am aware. the possibility of utilizin such process in connection with a sprin ler-head system,- has not been contemplated, due probably to several difficulties which are inherent in connection'with the use of the process. For instance, the solutions must normally be kept separate, the product resulting from the commixture spending itself, thus decreasing the value of the commixed solutions. This practically prevents maintaining the headers filled with the commixed solutions ready to be discharged, A somewhat similar effect is present where an attempt is made to provide the commixture of the solutions at a,

The .present nvention is designed to meet. I '80 these and other obj ections and permit of the use of the foam type of extinguishing me: dium in connection with sprinkler-head systems. This is made possible by maintaining the solutions separate, within the conduit system, and commixing the solutions after they have passed from the conduits. This result I obtain by the use of a sprinkler-head unit in which the several solutions are discharged in proximity to each other in a more or less stream-like manner, and obstructing the flow path of the stream to force the component elements of the stream into a commixed relation, whereupon the chemical reactions immediately take place and the medium distribution is practically at its greatest efliciency owin 'to the fact that it is put into service imme iately upon its formation, the commixing taking .place in the open air and under the most favorable conditions.

To these and other ends, therefore the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed. said invention consists in the improved 'construcdrawings, and more particularly tion discharge openings closedby the holding means for the closure.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through a portion of a unit, showing one way in which the discharge member may be formed.

-is connected to each of the solution lines,

the latter being independent'of each other, so that when the system is inactive, and each of the u'nits'a're closed, the several solutions will be maintained free from admixture. So far as the present-invention is concerned, the several solutions may be held Within the pipe lines, or may be normally maintained out of such lines and brought into the lines when needed, as for instance is referred to in the patent to Walker, 1,186,249, June 6, 1916, or in my companion application filed March 13, 1917, Ser, No. 154,471. 1

While the solutions employed may he of any desired type, I prefer to employ what is known as the foamite solution,-in which one of the solutions is formed of aluminum sulfate andwater, while the other solution is formed of sodium bi-carbonate, water and foamite, these solutions, when commixed,

producing thedesired foam-extinguishing med um. The present invention comprises primarily a solution discharge element ahaving a closure a" and a yoke a carrying a member. a (which may be threaded or otherwise secured to the yoke) the inner end of the member a being opposite the exposedfaceof closure a. b designates tl' holdin means for the closure, this mezextending between the inner end of memb a and. the closure a, and being preferably formed of two members which are normally held in proper relative position by a suitable fusible metal connection, this being awellknown form, of holding means; when the temperature has been raised by fire conditions to a sufiicient extent, the fusible metal melts and permits the two members to separate, asby gravity, by the pressure of the solutions on the closure, or'by both, the cap being released and permitting the solutions to-be discharged.

c designates a combined commixing element and distributor, this being carried by the yoke in a position to intersect the flow path of the discharging stream or streams,

thus breaking up the stream formation and causing the solutions to be commixed. If desired, the element 0 may be provided with notches 0 through which the commixing solutions may pass, and, the notches may be arranged more or less inclined to radii of the element, and the element may be loosely mounted, in which case the notch formation may tend to set up a rotating effect on the element when the commixed solution is being discharged; If'desired, the element may be provided with openings leading from the notches through the web.

As will be understood, commixing of the solutions is entirely in the open air. A small amount of commixing action may take lace while the solution streams are passing rom the discharge element to element 0, but

vthe main comin'ixing action is provided by the action of element 0 in intersecting the streams or composite stream, breaking up the stream flow and causing the desired amount of commixture of the solutions.

Discharge element a may be. of different ent inlets for the-individual solutions, these inlets being preferably in axial alinement,

although, it will be obvious, they may be arranged angularly to each other, the several inlets being arranged to permit connection tot-he pipes of the conduit system.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown a simple arrangement in which the inlets, indicated at 10, are maintained separate by a web or partition llleading to the plane of the discharge cpening, thus dividing the latter into discharge ports 121-12, the closure a being located over these ports, a suitable sealing element 13, which may be a disk, washer,

or gasket of oiled paper, being interposed between the closure and the body of elementa. In this form, the several ports are located on opposite sides of the wall 11 which ex- -tends diametrically, as'indicated in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 1 and 5,'the discharge ports 12*12 are shown as concentrically arranged, the division wallbeing in the form of a tubular member 11 which practically forms an L with one of the inlets, the other inlet having'an annular discharge port. It

is preferred that the areas of the two ports be approximately equal. In this form, the composite stream is made up of an annular stream of one solution with an internal stream of the other solution.

-In"Figs. 6- and 7, element a has its discharge ports arranged to provide for the discharge of the solutions in four streams, the discharge ports each being somewhat.

triangular in contour withthe ports 50 connected with the inlets that alternate ports will discharge the same solution, while adjacent ortswill discharge diflercnt solutions. his latter form of element a is )referred, since the streams are dischargev in Hence the medium is ture tending to shut off such manner as to produce a quicker comrate streams are in such close relation that they form, after discharge, practically a composite stream, the travel ofv the stream being of sufficient length to provide the commixture at a point spaced from the port outlets, reducing liability of the developed mixthe ports, and at the same time the distance is not of such length as would cause stream dispersion to the stream out of intersection with element 0 to any material extent. Furthermore, the length of travel between the discharge port and element a will not materially reduce the pressure of the stream below the discharging pressure of the individual streams. And since the length of movement of each of the discharged streams is substantially the same.

due to the particular arrangement, it will be understood that the solutions will be de' livered in practically predetermined proportions so as to produce a proper development of the extinguishing medium, thereby msuring for maximum efiiciency.

Element 0 concave so that the streams or composite stream-projected under "considerable press sure-will.be properly commixed and thrown I out in a more or less canopy-like formation carrying the developed medium away from the path of the streams being delivered. Hence there is little likelihood of the developed medium interfering with the passage of the solutions to the medium developing position. Obviously, the arrangement practically provides for dispersion at the time when the solutions are brought into commixing relation, and the more or less Violent intermingling of the broken up streams serves, to produce a condition where the chemical reactions may take place with rapidity and, if necessary, during the movement of the broken up elements through the air in passing from element a to the fire; at maximum. efiicicncy, none of the ingredients having become spent through travel in conduit or'header under conditions where chemical reaction can take lace therein.

As will be readily understood, the discharge ports of the several forms shown are so arranged relatively each solution is discharged through its port or ports in. stream form, with the ath of travel ofthe streams adaptedto p ace the streams in juxtaposition after discharge, the

discharge through an extent which would carry has its active face more or less 'head unit common to. said lines,

to each other that] arrangementscausing individual discharged streams to form zones of 'a composite stream,

the juxtaposed zonal boundary portions of the streams being formed from different, solutions. As a result,'the general arrangement provides for compactness, and at the same timeprovides for efiicient'commixing action, in that the several solutions are in such close relation at the time when rthe stream formation is broken up thatthe desired chemical reaction may take place with rapidity.

While I have herein shown and described various ways in which the invention may be carried into effect, it'willbe obvious that variations, changes or modifications therein may be desirable or be required in meetin the needs of individualinstallations, and T desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found desirable or essential, in so far as the samev may fall Within the spirit and scope of the inventior as expressed in the accompanying claims when broadly construed.

Having thus described my inventiomwhar I claim as new, is:

1. As a means for extinguishing fires by the foam-extinguishing process, a delivery system of the sprinkler-head type, said sys' 'tem including inde ende'nt lines for the several component so utions, and a. sprinkler: head unit common to said lines, said unit comprising individual discharge ports, for

the; solutions, and means for maintaining through its discharge port in stream form and in a direction to place the streams in juxtaposition and. in substantially commit;- ing relation after discharge;

2. As a means for extinguishing fires by the foam-extinguishing process, a delivery system of the sprinkler-head type, said system including independent lines. for the several "component so utions, and a sprinklersaid unit comprising individual discharge ports for the solutions, means for maintaining the ports closed in theabsence of fire conditions, said means bein automatically releasable in the resence ofhre conditions to permit free disc 'arge of the individual solutions concurrently, each solution passing through its discharge port in streamform and in a direction to place the streams in juxtaposition after discharge, and means intersecting the path of travel of the discharged streams for afiec'ting the individual stream forms tions to produce commingling and commie.

solutions,

'Yid uce the extinguishing medium is providedsolely after solution discharge.

3. A sprinkler-head unit adapted for foamcxtinguishing' systems and comprising an element having independent inlets for the.

individual solutions and also havingindi vidual discharge ports communicating with the respective solution inlets, whereby communication between solutions will be prevented within the element, closure means for the discharge ports, and means for'normally holding the closure means in ortclosing position and being automatically releasable in the presence of fire conditions to-permit freetdischarge of the individual solutions through the respective ports in stream form, the discharge portsbein relatively, arranged to cause individua dis-, charged streams to form zones of a composite stream with juxtaposed zonal-boundary port-ions formed from different solutions. I I p p 4. A sprinkler-head unit adapted for foamextinguishing systems and comprising an element havingindepen'dent inlets for the individual solutions and also having individual discharge ports communicating with the respective solution inlets, whereby commimication between solutions will be prevented within the element, closure means for the discharge ports, and means for normally holding the closure means in 1portclosing position and being automatical yreleasable in the presence of fire conditiotl s to ermit free discharge of the individual soutions through the respective ports in Laaaoos stream form, the discharge port-s being rela; tively arranged to cause individual discharged streams to form zones of' a composite stream with juxtaposed zonal boundary portions formed from different solutions,

said unitcarrying an element positioned I to-intersect the flow path of the composite stream and located at'a point spaced from the discharge ports.

5. A sprinkler-head unit adapted for foamextinguishing systems and comprising an element having independent inlets for the individual solutions and also having-an [internal configuration for producing, individ-- ual discharge ports communicating with the respectlve solution inlets with the discharge ports in juxtaposed relation, said ports extending to a common plane, whereby communication between solutions will be presition'ed to cause individual discharge streams to form zones'of a composite stream with juxtaposed zonal boundaryv portions formed from different solutions. I

In-t-estimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. v

DUNCAN W. PATTERSON. 

